Back in the game after 9 years

[Skizzarzz]

After 9 years I'm starting the reef tank back up! I can't believe how much has changed and how much I forgot what to do lol. Iv bin reading a lot on this forum and other sites hopefully you guys can give me some great advice. Last time I tryed a reef tank I was 15-16 and failed corals all died in few months. This time I want it done right. I have a 150gallon tank. Here's what iv done so far ( tank has only had water in it for 4 days.
- 60lbs of reg sand ,
- old live rock I used that have so figure I'll use it as a base and stack new live rock on top, and I'll add about 20lbs of live sand.
- 2 850gph hydor power heads - 1 1150gph power head / 1 660gph power head

- protein skimmer / 2 canister filters.
2-2 200watt heaters

I put salt in 4 days ago, I added abit to much 1.028.
I was also told to put in a bottle of the colony marine to help start the cycle so figured I'd try it.

Right now it seems the water is a tad cloudy... I hope this will clear up after a few water changes ?
Some pictures of the tank right now ... I have to move one of the power heads it's pushing the sand everywhere lol
Any advice on what I should be doing next would be great I don't want to make the same mistake as last time.

 

[kevin21]

Seems like a cool setup. I would advise against the canister filters, they can build up nitrates when left uncleaned very often. All you need is 100-150lbs of live rock and a skimmer rated somewhere above your water volume and you should be fine. If their was no die off on any of the rock you added, you are fine adding colony marine I suppose. Do not do any water changed until your cycle is complete. You should see ammonia, then nitrite, then nitrate. Some don't ever see the nitrite part of the cycle. If in a few weeks you test your water and see you have no ammonia, no nitrite, and some nitrate, you are good to do a nice water change and add a few members of your clean up crew. If these survive, you can start slowly adding the rest of the crew. I wouldnt add too much though, unless you have algae for them to eat. After a couple weeks of the clean up crew doing well, you can add a nice hardy soft coral, and see how that does. After that, you can look to add your first fish.

By the way, the cloudiness of the water is normal during the cycle. After a large water change after your cycle is complete, you should see the water clear as crystal.

 

[Reef_Chief]

If the sand has been blowing around could that be what has made the tank cloudy?

Also what water are you using? If you are planning on corals you would need RO/DI water to have success over any real period of time.

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[Reef_Chief]

Also if your protien skimmer is new it could be producing micro bubbles whilst it builds up a bio film inside itself. This would also make your display tank look cloudy.

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[ldballoon4]

Welcome back to the hobby! It has definitely changed in your absence, in many ways.
My advice: educate your self on all sides. Filtration, lighting, water quality, livestock compatibility etc...

Your chapter now begins with How to cycle a reef tank. Research that ASAP. Good luck.

(Also, for mechanical filtration, canister filters can be used, but I would only utilize them for temporary cleaning measures. If you are still going to use them, you best clean them out religiously on a calendar schedule- If you do not, they will break down the organics back into your tank spiking your nutrient level and crashing your tank all over again). :headwalls: